Thanksgiving week: A retrospective of Valley events

Celebrating the holiday right here in the Valley, that's me.

My husband, Ralph, and I enjoyed the camaraderie at the Master's Table Community Dinner Sunday in Assumption Church hall in Ansonia. 
It was the nonprofit's annual Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey and all the fixings. 

Master's Table fed close to 200 people that afternoon. 
The meal is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, right, greets Master's Table 
founder Jim Fedak.

Attendees were pleasantly surprised by a visit from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and two of his aides. 
Murphy spoke with Master's Table founder Jim Fedak, and also met with volunteers and members of the community.

That evening, daughter Allegra and I attended the Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving service. 
The service offers participants a chance to experience a variety of faith traditions.
Each year a different house of worship hosts the event, and this year it was held at the First United Methodist Church in Ansonia.

On Thanksgiving Day I took a break from preparing our dinner to pose wearing my new hat. 
Lovely, isn't it?

Allegra and I attended yet another community event on Friday: the opening of a 100-year old time capsule that was removed from the cornerstone of the Derby Elks Lodge building. 
It was fascinating to see the items that had been placed inside by members of the Lodge a century ago.

Read the story and watch a video by Derby resident Jack Walsh here.

And below is a slideshow that Ralph created from my photos:  

Today daughter and I took in the sights of the ever-elegant and welcoming Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby. 

Each year area garden clubs beautifully decorate the Colonial Revival-style home for the holiday season. 
Hours for guided tours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 19. 
Twilight tours will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 11, and 18.

This year the theme was "Holiday at the Farm." 

As you can see, our visit was a moo-ving experience.


Please stay tuned to The Valley Voice website for many more photos of the homestead decked out for the holiday season. 
We recommend a trip to 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby to help you get into the Yuletide mood.

Re-posting: Thanksgiving service planned in Ansonia; food donations requested

ANSONIA - The Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday.

The worship service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 47 Franklin St.

The celebration will include familiar hymns, readings, and music from several faith traditions and a reading of the President's Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

Everyone is welcome. Donations of non-perishable food items to support area food banks are requested. 

The sponsoring houses of worship are:

Al-Aziz Islamic Center, Bridgeport; Bahai' Group of Oxford; Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia; Clinton AME Zion Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Derby; First United Methodist Church, Ansonia, Phuoc Long Buddhist Temple, Ansonia.

Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service planned at Ansonia church

ANSONIA - Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us pretty quickly, or so it seems.

I learned today the always inspiring Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to celebrate our American holiday is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 22.

The worship service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 47 Franklin St.

The celebration will include familiar hymns, readings, and music from several faith traditions and a reading of the President's Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

Everyone is welcome. Donations of non-perishable food items to support area food banks are requested. 

The sponsoring houses of worship are:

Al-Aziz Islamic Center, Bridgeport; Bahai' Group of Oxford; Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia; Clinton AME Zion Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Ansonia; First Congregational Church, Derby; First United Methodist Church, Ansonia, Phuoc Long Buddhist Temple, Ansonia.